Extension car-step.



J. E. JONES.

EXTENSION GAR STEP.

APPLICATION FILED APR.4, 1914.

1,103,146. Patented July 14,191

2 BH-BETSSHEET 1.

THE- NORRIS PETERE CO:I PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. D C.

J JONES. EXTENSION GAR STEP. APPLICATION PI'LED 11.4, 1914.

Patented July 14,1914.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS 50., PHOTD-LITHOH WASHINGTON, D

JOHN EMERY JONES, OF GLENFIELD, NEW YORK.

EXTENSION" GAR-STEP.

mosaic.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 14, 1914.

Application filed April 4, 1914. Serial No. 82?),529.

To all whom. it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN EMERY JoNns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Glcnfield, in the county of Lewis and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ExtensionOar- Steps, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing- This invention relates to an extension car step and the principal object of the same 1s the provision of a step which is normally carried in a closed position under the stationary car step while the car is in motion which is adapted to be easily swung to an operative position at a spaced distance from the end of the fixed steps.

Another object of this invention is the production of an extension car step which is provided with a simple and efficient operating mechanism whereby when the operating mechanism is released the car step will be swung to an operative position for use.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an operating mechanism for the extension step which is adapted to be assisted in raising the extension step by means of the usual trap door, said mechanism being adapted to efliciently hold the usual trap door in a closed position.

With these and other objects in view this invention consists of certain novel combinations, constructions and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a side elevation of one end of a car or coach showing the extension car step in a closed position. Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of a portion of a car or coach showing the extension step carried thereby in an extended position, and showing the usual trap door as the same is released and begins to open. Fig. 3 is a cer. tral vertical section taken through the extension car step showing the same attached to a portion of the car, the operating mechanism being shown in elevation. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through a portion of a car, showing the operating mechanism in section and illustrating how the usual trap door is held in a closed position. Fig. 5 is a detailed perspective view of the operating lever. Fig. 6 is a detailed perspective view of the pivoted handle. Fig. 7 is a detailed perspective view of the usualv trap door, showlng the operating plate carrled thereby. Fig. 8 is a detailed perspective view of the retaining bracket.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals 1 designates the usual car or train coach which is provided with the usual vestibule 2 havingfixedly secured stops 3. This vestibule 2 is provided with the usual platform 4 which terminates at a spaced distance from the side of the car 1 as disclosed at 5 for the accommodation of the fixedly secured steps 3. 'Since the lower portion of the fixedly secured steps of the car 1 is at a spaced distance from the ground, necessitating the use of a stool or other device in connection with the usual car, this device is provided with an extension step which is normally carried beneath the lower step when the car is in motion, but which may be swung to an operative position when the forward ends of the side bars 12, these ends extending in a horizontal plane. Said forward ends 12 of the side bars 12 are held in firm engagement with the'extension step 11 by means of the securing members 13 which pass through the plates 14, which plates 14- are positioned upon the outer lower sides of theforward ends 12 ofthe side bars 12. These plates 1 1 are provided with bearings 15 for the reception of the ttshaped member 8. Since this member 8. is pivotally secured to the rod 7 it will be seen that the extension step 11 may be swung forwardly and rearwardly as desired. The rear ends of the side bars 12 extend rearwardly and upwardly, as clearly disclosed in Fig. 3. The upper ends of these bars 12 terminate in the pivot eyes 16 wherethrough passes the pivot rod 17 These side bars 12 are positioned. upon each end of the pivot bar 17 thereby allowing considerable space between the bars for allowing the secondary fingers 18 to be pivotally secured thereto. The upper ends of these secondary fingers 18 are fixedly secured to the shaft '19 which is journaled in the sides 6 of the step 3. One end of this shaft 19 terminates in a crank-arm 20 to which the lower end of the operating lever 21 is pivotally secured since the crank arm 20 is positioned within the aperture 22 formed in the lower end of this operating lever.

The operating lever comprises an elongated body having a reinforcing strip 23 fixedly secured to its lower end by means of the rivets or other securing members 2 1. This strip 23 isbent intermediate its ends to provide a laterally extending lug 25. This operating lever 21 and strip 23 pass through an opening 26 formed in the plat form 1 of the vestibule 2 so that the upper portions of the operating lever 21 will ex- I tend into the vestibule 2 of the car while the lower end of the operating lever and strip will extend down upon the outer side of thesides 6 of the fixed steps 3 for engaging the crank arm 20.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that when the lever 21 is pushed downwardly it will rotate the shaft 19 by means of the crank arm 20 thereby throwing the short fingers 18 rearwardly. These short fingers 18 will draw rearwardly and upwardly upon the side bars 12 thereby drawing the extension step 11 upwardly and rearwardly since this extension step is supported upon the forward ends 12 of the side bars 12, and these forward ends are fixedly secured to the U-shaped member 8. Since this, member is pivotally secured to the supporting rod 7 and this rod 7 is carried by the sides 6 adjacent their lower forward corners, the step will only be swung up 3. When, however, the lever 21 is released the weight of theside bars 12 and extension step 11 will cause the bars and step to be swung down,- wardly and forwardly upon the U-shaped member S-Whereby the step will be in position for use.

For the purpose of operating the lever 21, this lever extends through the L-shaped bracket 27 which is fixedly secured to the vestibule 2 of the car 1 by the securing members 28, as disclosed in Figs. 2 and 3. This Lshaped bracket 27 is provided with an elongated slot 29 wherethrough passes the upper end of the operating lever 21.

T'hepivoted handle 30 is provided with an ofi-set body 31 having formed therein an aperture 32- for receiving a pivot pin 33 for pivotally securing the operating handle in engagement with the operating lever 21,' since the pivot pin 33 fits within the opening 34: formed in the operating lever 21. This operating lever 21 is also provided adjacent its upper end -w-ith the notches 35 and 36 which notches 29. A coiled spring 37 is attached to the operating lever 21 by passing one end through the aperture 38 and attaching the opposite end of the vestibule 2 of the car 1, as disclosed at 39. By the use of this coiled spring the operating lever 21 will be urged toward one end of the slot so that the bracket 27 will fit within either the notch 35 or the notch 36. When the operating lever 21 is moved downwardly to hold the step in a closed position, the bracket 27 will fit within the notch 36 but when it is desired to allow the extension step 11 to move downwardly and forwardly, the operating lever 21 is pulled toward the interior of the vestibule 2 thereby disengaging the notch 36 from bracket 37, at which time the weight of the step and side bars will cause the step to move to an operable position while the lever will move upwardly and engage the bracket 27 for allowing the bracket to pass within the notch 37 thereby locking the step 11 in an extended position and preventing the same from swinging.

In order to close the opening over the stationary or fixed steps 3 when the car 1 is in motion, the usual trap door 40 is employed which is pivotally secured to the platform 1 of the car, as disclosed in Figs. 2 and 4: by means of the pivot member 11. This door 40 is normally urged to an open position by means of the usual coiled spring 42 which is secured to the car 1 as disclosed at 43 and at the opposite end of the trap door 40, as shown at 4A. In order, however, to retain this trap door 40 in a closed position, while the car is in motion this trap door'4c0 is provided with a fixedly secured plate 455 which extends for a short distance beyond the forward edge of the trap door and which is adapted to rest upon the lug25 formed upon the strip 23 and, which is prevented from swinging upwardly by the angular lip 46 formed upon the lower end of the operating handle 30. This trap door 40 is of the usual type now employed in use upon vestibule cars but the new and novel construction employed for holding the door in a closed position forms part of this invention. When this device is in use, the step will be in an extended position while the trap door 40 will be open. When it is desired to allow the train to move, the trap door is pushed downwardly until the plate 15 strikes upon the lug 25 formed upon the strip 23. By pulling the operating lever 21 toward the inwardly whereby the step 11 wi ed and the plate will pass the outer edge oit'the lips 46 whereby the trap door may be swung to an open po, ion without necessitating the operation of the handle.

It will be noted by referring to Fig. 2 that the plate at rests between the lug 25 and lip 46, but that the lip 46 is much smaller than the lug 25 thereby allowing the plate 455 to move past the same without operating the handle 30 when the lever moves upwardly since the coiled spring will normally draw upwardly-upon the trap door and will cause the plate 45 to spring or move past the short lip 46, when the lever has moved high enough to disengage the plate 45 and lip 46.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that a simple and efficient extension step has been produced which will of its own weight swing to an operable position when the operating mechanism is released and which is adapted to be closed by the operating mechanism, this operating mechanism being adapted to release or hold in a closed position the usual hingedly secured trap door position above said steps.

In practical fields the minor details of construction and arrangement of parts may necessitate alterations, to which the patentee has a right, provided the alterations fall within the scope of what is claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is z- 1. In a device of the class described the combination with a support, an operating lever slidably mounted upon said support, a step secured to said support and adapted to swing thereon, means connecting said step to said lever whereby said lever will swing said step to an open or closed position, and a trap door hingedly secured to said support, and means carried by said operating lever for holding said trap door in a closed position when said operating lever swings said step.

2. In an extension step the combination with a car having fixedly secured steps, a lever slidably mounted upon said car, a trap door hingedly secured to said car and adapted to be positioned above said fixed steps, means formed upon said lever for normally locking said trap door in a closed position, said last-mentioned means adapted to release said trap door when desired, an extension step carried by said fixed step, and

means engaging said lever and said extension step for swinging said extension step to a closed position when said trap door is closed.

3'. In a device of the class described the combination with a car having fixed steps, an operating lever slidably mounted upon said car, a trap door hingedly secured to said car and adapted to fit above said fixed steps, means for normally urging said trap door to a closed position, a pivotally mounted operating handle secured to said lever, said operating handle adapted to hold said trap door in a closed position or releasing the same when desired, an extension step carried by the lower portion of said fixed step, and means engaging said extension step and said lever whereby said step may be swung to an operable position when said lever is moved and said handle allows said trap door to swing to an open position.

In a device of the class described the combination with a car having fixed steps, an L-shapcd bracket having a longitudinal slot fixedly secured to said car, an operating lever slidably mounted within said slot, an operating handle pivotally secured to said lever, said operating handle passing through the slot formed in said bracket, said operating handle provided at its lower portion with a laterally extendin lip, said lever provided with a laterally extending lug formed at a spaced distance from said lip, a trap door hingedly secured to said car, a plate fixedly secured to said trap door adapted to fit between said lip and said lug, whereby trap door may be held in a closed position, an extension step carried by said fixed step, and means engaging the lower end of said lever and engaging said extension step for throwing the same to an operable position when desired.

5. In a device of the class described the combination with a car having fixed steps,

a supporting bar carried by the lower portion of said steps, a plurality of side bars secured to said supporting bar and adapted to swing freely, a step fixed upon the forward ends of said side bars, an operating lever slidably mounted within said car, means connecting said side bars to said operating lever whereby said step may be swung to an open or closed position by said lever, means engaging said lever for holding said step in a closed position.

6. In a device of the class described the combination with a car having fixed steps, a supporting bar carried by the lower portion of said steps, a ll-shaped finger pivotally secured to said bar, said bars pivotally secured to said U-shaped finger, a step fixedly secured to the forward end of said side bars, the rear portion of said side bars extending upwardly, an operating shaft carried by said steps and provided at one end with a crank arm, a plurality of short fingers fixed to said shaft connected to the rear end of said side bars, anoperating' lever slidably mounted upon said car and attached at its lower end to said crank arm, whereby said operating lever may be pushed downwardly thereby swinging said crank arm, whereby said shaft will swing said short fingers for drawing said side bars rearwardly and causing said step to swing to a closed position, and means for holding said step in a closed position. p

7. In a device of the class described the combination with a car having fixedsteps, an extension step secured to said fixed steps and adapted to swing freely, an operating lever slidably mounted upon said car, means connecting said lever to said steps whereby Copies of this patentmay be obtained for said step may be swung to an open or closed position, an .L-shaped bracket carried by said car, said bracket provided with an elongated slot, saidlever adapted to pass upwardly through said slot, said lever provided with a plurality of notches upon one side, said bracket adapted to fit within said notches for holding said step in a set position, resilient means engaging said lever for firmly holding the same in engagement with said bracket whereby said step may be swung to an open or closed position as desired.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

- JOHN EMERY' JONES; lVitnesses EDWARD C. LING, HE BERT- J. Ramsay.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents. Washington, D. G. 

